Anemone plant named ‘WESKIPO’

ABSTRACT

‘WESKIPO’ is a new and distinctive  Anemone hupehensis  plant which is characterized by a compact growth habit, durable foliage, and strong flowering stems which bear very-double, light pink flowers. The new variety propagates successfully by cuttings and tissue culture and has shown to be uniform and stable in the resulting generations from asexual propagation.

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the genus and species of the novel variety disclosed herein is Anemone hupehensis Lemoine.

Variety denomination: The inventive variety of Anemone disclosed herein has been given the variety denomination ‘WESKIPO’.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to the Community Plant Variety Rights application number 2020/3193, filed Dec. 6, 2020, which is herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parentage: ‘WESKIPO’ is the result of a controlled cross-pollination breeding program carried out by the inventor at their commercial nursery in Klijndijk, The Netherlands. The inventor began by performing a controlled self-pollination of Anemone hupehensis ‘Lorelei’ (unpatented). Seed from the controlled pollination of 2017 cross was harvested, then germinated, and the resulting seedlings were then grown to a mature size. In 2016, the inventors selected the new Anemone cultivar due to its unique flower characteristics. This new and distinctive cultivar was given the name ‘WESKIPO’.

Asexual Reproduction: Asexual reproduction of ‘WESKIPO’ was first accomplished in October of 2017 by way of root cuttings at the inventor's nursery in Klijndijk, The Netherlands. ‘WESKIPO’ was subsequently asexually reproduced by way of meristematic tissue culture micro propagation. Seventeen successive generations have shown that the unique features of the instant cultivar are stable and reproduce true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘WESKIPO’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the instant environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The following characteristics have been repeatedly observed and represent the distinguishing characteristics of the new Anemone cultivar, ‘WESKIPO’. These traits, in combination, distinguish ‘WESKIPO’ as a new and distinct cultivar.

-   -   1. Anemone ‘WESKIPO’ exhibits a compact growth habit; and     -   2. Anemone ‘WESKIPO’ exhibits strong, durable foliage and         flowering stems; and     -   3. Anemone ‘WESKIPO’ exhibits very-doubled, apetalous flowers         with an abundance of tepaloids; and     -   4. Anemone ‘WESKIPO’ exhibits light purple flowers, generally         appearing as a pale pink color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, the typical foliage and growth characteristics of the new cultivar, ‘WESKIPO’. The plant shown is approximately one year old, potted into a 19 cm nursery pot, grown outdoors in Kirkcudbright, Scotland at a commercial nursery.

FIG. 2 shows, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, the typical foliage of the plant in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, the typical flower of the plant in FIG. 1.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed botanical description of a new and distinct variety of Anemone hybrid known as ‘WESKIPO’, based upon observations of one year old plants, potted into 19 cm nursery pots and grown in a climate controlled greenhouse in The Netherlands. Plants were grown in full sun using accepted fertility and irrigation practices for Anemone plants. No chemical pest control measures were employed. Furthermore, no artificial light or photoperiodic treatments were given to the plants. Observation data was recorded in October of 2021.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristics will vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. ‘WESKIPO’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Where dimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such measurements are approximations or averages set forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety may differ from the descriptions set forth herein with variations in environmental, climactic and cultural conditions. Color notations are based on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The Royal Horticultural Society, London, sixth edition, 2015.

A botanical description of ‘WESKIPO’ and a comparison with the parent, which is the most similar variety of common knowledge, is provided below.

-   General plant description:     -   -   Growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial with leaves developing             from basal rosettes; flowering stems arising from the             rosette also bear foliage; no lateral branching is present.         -   Profile.—Broad ovate to flattened globular.         -   Growth rate.—Moderately fast to fast growing.         -   Plant vigor.—Highly vigorous.         -   Height.—52.0 cm to the top of the foliar plane; 64.1 cm to             the top of the floral plane.         -   Width.—62.3 cm.         -   Propagation.—Method — Root cuttings and meristematic tissue             culture. Time to initiate rooting — Approximately 2 weeks at             an average ambient temperature of 22 degrees Celsius. Time             to produce flowering plant from rooted cutting —             Approximately 6 to 8 weeks to produce a rooted young plant;             16 to 20 months to produce a marketable potted plant.         -   Pest resistance and susceptibility.—Plants have not been             observed to be any more or less susceptible or resistant to             pathogens and pests common to Anemone sp.         -   Environmental tolerances.—Adapt to, at least, USDA Zones 4             to 9 and temperatures ranging from minus 30 degrees Celsius             to 35 degrees Celsius; moderate tolerance to rain; moderate             tolerance to wind. -   Root system:     -   -   Type.—Moderately fibrous root system.         -   Branching.—Very freely branched.         -   Density.—Moderately dense.         -   Distribution.—Roots distributed evenly throughout the soil             profile, from shallow to deep.         -   Texture.—Smooth; lacking root hairs. -   Stem:     -   -   Branching habit.—Basally branched; free branching.         -   Number of primary (main) stems per plant.—8.         -   Number of secondary (lateral) branches per plant.—None.         -   Attitude.—Near vertical; average angle of 15 degrees from             vertical.         -   Aspect.—Elliptic.         -   Length.—34.0 cm, excluding the peduncle.         -   Diameter.—1.0 cm at the widest point, and 0.7 cm at the             narrowest.         -   Internode length.—34.0 cm.         -   Texture.—Densely pubescent; 0.1-cm-long, adpressed hairs are             short and thin and colored greyed-white, nearest to RHS             156D.         -   Luster.—Slightly glossy.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Color, juvenile.—Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 144A.         -   Color, mature.—Yellow-green, nearest to a mixture of RHS             146A and 146B.         -   Color at internodes.—Yellow-green, nearest to a mixture of             RHS 146A and 146B. -   Foliage:     -   -   Arrangement.—Leaves are borne both basally and on the             flowering stems.         -   Basal leaves.—Attachment — Petiolate. Arrangement —             Alternate. Division — Trifoliate. Compound leaf outline —             Broadly ovate. Length — 30.4 cm. Width — 26.8 cm. Attitude —             Upward and outward. Leaflets — Shape — Ovate to broad ovate.             Length — Terminal leaflet is 19.7 cm long; lateral leaflets             are 22.3 cm long. Width — Terminal leaflet is 12.5 cm wide;             lateral leaflets are 14.6 cm wide.

Attitude — Outward, relative to the petiole. Aspect — Slightly to moderately carinate. Apex — Narrowly acute. Base — Truncate to hastate. Margin — Biserrate. Texture, adaxial surface — Sparsely to moderately covered with short, soft hairs with an average length of 0.075 cm; colored greyed-white, nearest to RHS 156D. Texture, abaxial surface — Sparsely to moderately covered with short, soft hairs with an average length of 0.075 cm; colored greyed-white, nearest to RHS 156D. Veins are densely covered with 0.1-cm-long hairs that are colored greyed-white, nearest to RHS 156A. Luster, adaxial surface — Slightly glossy. Luster, abaxial surface — Matte. Color — Juvenile color, adaxial surface — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 144A. Juvenile color, abaxial surface — Green, nearest to a mixture of RHS 138B and 143B. Mature color, adaxial surface — Nearest to a mixture of green and yellow-green, RHS NN137A and 147A. Mature color, abaxial surface — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 147B. Venation — Type — Laciniate. Vein color, adaxial surface — Yellow-green, nearest to in between RHS 144A and 144B. Vein color, abaxial surface — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 147D. Petiole — Length — 23.6 cm. Diameter — 0.7 cm. Strength — Strong. Texture, adaxial and abaxial surfaces — Moderately covered with soft hairs; average length of hairs is 0.075 cm; colored greyed-white, nearest to RHS 156D. Luster, adaxial and abaxial surfaces — Slightly glossy. Color, adaxial surface — Yellow-green, nearest to a mixture of RHS 146A and 146B. Color, abaxial surface — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 145A. Sheath — Length — 4.0 cm. Width — 0.8 cm. Color — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 146B. Stipules — None present.

-   -   -   Leaves of flowering stems.—Attachment — Petiolate. Attitude             — Outward. Arrangement — Opposite. Division — Simple. Shape             — Ovate to broadly ovate; trilobate; lobes are deeply lobed             to near-cleft. Lobes — Depth of sinuses — Varying from             moderately deep to very deep. Sinus orientation —             Convergent. Length — 14.6 cm. Width — 13.3 cm. Aspect —             Slightly to moderately carinate. Apex — Narrowly acute. Base             — Truncate to hastate. Margin — Serrate to biserrate.             Texture, adaxial surface — Sparsely to moderately covered             with short, soft hairs with an average length of 0.075 cm;             colored greyed-white, nearest to RHS 156D. Texture, abaxial             surface — Sparsely to moderately covered with short, soft             hairs with an average length of 0.075 cm; colored             greyed-white, nearest to RHS 156D. Veins are densely covered             with 0.1-cm-long hairs that are colored greyed-white,             nearest to RHS 156A. Luster, adaxial surface — Slightly             glossy. Luster, abaxial surface — Matte. Color — Juvenile             color, adaxial surface — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 144A.             Juvenile color, abaxial surface — Green, nearest to a             mixture of RHS 138B and 143B. Mature color, adaxial surface             — Nearest to a mixture of green and yellow-green, RHS NN137A             and 147A. Mature color, abaxial surface — Yellow-green,             nearest to RHS 147B. Venation — Type — Laciniate. Vein             color, adaxial surface — Yellow-green, nearest to in between             RHS 144A and 144B. Vein color, abaxial surface —             Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 147D.         -   Petiole.—Length — 2.9 cm. Diameter — 0.55 cm. Strength —             Strong. Texture, adaxial and abaxial surfaces — Moderately             covered with soft hairs; average length of hairs is 0.075             cm; colored greyed-white, nearest to RHS 156D. Luster,             adaxial and abaxial surfaces — Slightly glossy. Color,             adaxial surface — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 144B. Color,             abaxial surface — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 144B. Sheath             — Length — 1.8 cm. Width — 0.6 cm. Color — Yellow-green,             nearest to RHS 146D. Stipules — None present.

-   Inflorescence:     -   -   Habit.—Terminal compound cyme.         -   Natural flowering season.—Spring through late spring in             Kirkcudbright, Scotland.         -   Time to flower or response time.—Approximately 10 months.         -   Height.—31.5 cm.         -   Diameter.—7.5 cm.         -   Quantity of flowers per inflorescence.—9, on average.         -   Quantity of flowers per plant.—33, on average.         -   Quantity of flower buds per plant.—60, on average.         -   Quantity of flowers and flower buds per plant.—63, on             average.         -   Peduncles.—Length — Average of 24.2 cm. Diameter — Average             of 0.4 cm. Angle — Average angle to the stem is             approximately 10 degrees. Strength — Strong. Texture —             Smooth. Pubescence — Densely covered with soft hairs;             average length of hairs is 0.1 cm; hairs colored             greyed-white, nearest to RHS 156A. Luster — Very slightly             glossy. Color — Yellow-green, nearest to a mixture of RHS             146A; moderately to heavily suffused with a combination of             greyed-purple, nearest to RHS N186C, and brown, nearest to             RHS 200B.

-   Bud:     -   -   Shape.—Flattened.         -   Length.—Average of 1.3 cm.         -   Diameter.—Average of 2.1 cm.         -   Texture.—Smooth and dense wooly pubescence; hairs with an             average length of 0.1 cm and colored greyed-green, nearest             to a mixture of RHS 193B, 193C, and 193D.         -   Luster.—Matte.         -   Color.—Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 144C.

-   Flower:     -   -   Conformation.—Rotate, semi-double apetalous flowers.         -   Aspect.—Upright to slightly outward.         -   Flowering habit.—Moderately free-flowering.         -   Flower Longevity on plant.—Approximately 10 days.         -   Persistent or self-cleaning.—Self-cleaning.         -   Fragrance.—Non-fragrant.         -   Diameter.—Average of 6.6 cm.         -   Depth.—Average of 3.1 cm.         -   Tepals.—Quantity — Average of 7; occasionally 8. Arrangement             — Rotate; the unfused tepals arranged in 2 whorls. Length —             2.9 cm. Width — 1.8 cm. Shape — Obovate. Apex — Obtuse to             bluntly acute. Base — Cuneate. Margin — Entire; no             undulation to slightly undulated. Texture, luster and             pubescence of the upper surface — Glabrous, matte, and             velvety. Texture, luster and pubescence of the lower surface             — Smooth, slightly glossy, and densely covered with             appressed soft, silky hairs; average length of hairs is 0.1             cm; colored white, RHS NN155D. Color — When opening, upper             surface — Green-white, nearest to RHS 157A, and fading             lighter towards the margins and apex, nearest to RHS 157D;             apex is suffused with purple, nearest to RHS 75A. When             opening, lower surface — Yellow-green, nearest to in between             RHS 145C and 145D; apex is lightly suffused with purple,             nearest to RHS 76D. Fully opened, upper surface —             Green-white, nearest to RHS 157A, and fading lighter towards             the margins and apex, nearest to RHS 157D; apex is suffused             with purple, nearest to RHS 75A. Tepal color does not fade.             Fully opened, lower surface — Yellow-green, nearest to in             between RHS 145C and 145D; apex is suffused with purple,             nearest to RHS 73D. Tepal color does not fade. Tepal             venation — Fully opened, upper surface — No venation is             visible. Fully opened, lower surface — Yellow-green, nearest             to in between RHS 145C and 145D.         -   Tepaloids.—Quantity — Average of 90. Arrangement — Rotate;             the unfused tepaloids arranged in 10 whorls. Length —             2.7 cm. Width — 1.0 cm. Shape — Variable; oblanceolate to             narrowly obovate, and occasionally slightly falcate. Apex —             Acute to bluntly acute. Base — Narrowly cuneate. Margin —             Entire; slight coarse undulation. Texture, luster and             pubescence of the upper surface — Velvety, very slightly             glossy, and glabrous. Texture, luster and pubescence of the             lower surface — Smooth, very slightly glossy, and densely             covered with appressed soft, silky hairs; average length of             hairs is 0.1 cm; colored white, RHS NN155D. Color — When             opening, upper surface — Green-white, nearest to RHS 157B,             and fading lighter towards the margins and apex, nearest to             RHS 157D; apex is suffused with purple, nearest to RHS 75B.             When opening, lower surface — Green-white, nearest to RHS             157B, and fading lighter towards the margins and apex,             nearest to RHS 157D; apex is suffused with purple, nearest             to RHS 75C. Fully opened, upper surface — Purple, nearest to             RHS 75D; base is green-white, nearest to RHS 157D. Tepaloid             color does not fade. Fully opened, lower surface — Purple,             nearest to RHS 75D; base is green-white, nearest to RHS             157D. Tepaloid color does not fade. Tepal venation — No             visible venation on the upper or lower surfaces.         -   Pedicels.—Flowers sessile.

-   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Quantity — Approximately 200. Anthers — Shape —             Oblong. Length — Approximately 0.2 cm. Width — Approximately             0.15 cm. Color — Yellow, nearest to RHS 13B. Filaments —             Length — 0.7 cm, on average. Color — White, nearest to RHS             155A. Pollen — Color — Yellow, RHS 11D. Abundance — Sparse.         -   Pistil.—Quantity — Approximately 500. Length — 0.115 cm.             Style — Length — 0.095 cm. Color — Yellow-green, nearest to             RHS 145B. Stigma — Shape — Club-shaped. Dimensions — 0.02 cm             long and 0.02 cm in diameter. Color — Yellow-green, nearest             to RHS N144A. Ovary Color — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS             145D.

-   Seed and fruit: No fruit or seeds have been detected to date.

-   Comparisons with the parent plants: Plants of the new cultivar     ‘WESKIPO’ may be distinguished from its parent and most similar     commercial variety, Anemone hupehensis ‘Lorelei’ (unpatented), by     the characteristics described in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Characteristic ‘WESKIPO’ ‘Lorelei’ Growth habit. More compact than Less compact than ‘Lorelei’. ‘WESKIPO’. Foliage and Stronger than ‘Lorelei’. Weaker than flowering stem ‘WESKIPO’. strength. General coloration Lighter green, relative Darker green, relative of the mature foliage. to‘Lorelei’. to ‘WESKIPO’. Flower Apetalous flowers Apetalous flowers conformation. with an abundance of with tepals tepaloids. and fewer tepaloids. 

That which is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Anemone plant named ‘WESKIPO’, substantially as described and illustrated herein. 